Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI) opened in October 2023 about 40 kilometers — roughly 40-50 minutes — from the city center, replacing the old airport that sat much closer to town. Here’s what to expect on arrival and how to get into the city.
Getting from the airport to the city
A taxi or private car from the airport into central Siem Reap costs roughly $25-$35, arranged through the official taxi counter just outside arrivals. Many hotels, particularly mid-range and luxury properties, include free airport pickup — worth confirming at booking since it’s a meaningful saving on a 40-minute ride.
Visa and arrival process
Visa on arrival is available at the airport for nationalities that qualify, though applying for the Cambodia e-visa online in advance is generally faster and avoids the arrival queue. Immigration, baggage claim, and customs are all housed in a single modern terminal building.
Facilities at the airport
The terminal has ATMs, currency exchange, a handful of food and retail options, and free wifi in the arrivals and departures areas. Compared to the old airport, SAI is considerably larger and better equipped, reflecting the government’s push to modernize Cambodia’s tourism infrastructure.
Where to stay near the airport
A small cluster of hotels sits near SAI, useful mainly for a very early departure or a late-night arrival where you’d rather not make the full drive into town immediately. For anyone spending more than a night in Siem Reap, staying in town near Old Town or Charles de Gaulle Boulevard makes far more sense. See Siem Reap Airport Hotels: Where to Stay Before an Early Flight.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Siem Reap Angkor International Airport from the city?
Roughly 40 kilometers, about 40-50 minutes by car depending on traffic.
How much does a taxi from the airport cost?
Approximately $25-$35 for the ride into central Siem Reap via the official airport taxi counter.
Do Siem Reap hotels offer airport pickup?
Many mid-range and luxury hotels include it; it’s worth confirming at booking rather than assuming.
Can I get a visa on arrival at Siem Reap airport?
Yes, for eligible nationalities, though the online e-visa is generally faster.
Related guides
- How to Get to Siem Reap: Flights, Bus and Border Options
- Siem Reap Bike Rental Guide: Prices and Routes
- Battambang to Siem Reap: How to Get There
- Bangkok to Siem Reap: Border Crossing and Travel Options
Arriving: what to expect at the airport
Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport, opened in late 2023 to replace the old in-town airport, sits about 40 kilometers (roughly 45-50 minutes) from central Siem Reap — noticeably further out than the old airport was, so factor extra transfer time into arrival plans. E-visa and visa-on-arrival counters are both available inside, though pre-arranging an e-visa online before you fly avoids the arrival queue entirely.
Getting from the airport into town
The official airport taxi/tuk-tuk counter just past arrivals offers fixed-price transfers into town — a car runs around $15-20 and a tuk-tuk (a long, hot ride given the distance from this newer airport) around $10-12. Pre-booking a hotel transfer is a good idea given the distance and lack of ride-hailing app pickup at the terminal; most hotels can arrange this for a similar or sometimes lower price than the airport counter.
Hotels near the airport for early flights
Given the airport’s distance from town, a hotel near the airport is genuinely worth considering if you have a flight before 8am or arriving after 10pm — options in this category tend to be simple, functional 2-3 star properties from $20-35/night aimed squarely at convenience rather than atmosphere. For most other flight times, staying in central Siem Reap and budgeting the 45-50 minute transfer remains the better choice given the much wider range of hotels and restaurants available in town.
What changed with the new airport
The old Siem Reap International Airport, which sat just a few kilometers from town, closed in 2023 in favor of the new, much larger facility 40km out — a deliberate move to accommodate growing passenger numbers, but one that meaningfully changed the arrival logistics every visitor needs to plan around compared to older travel guides that may still reference the in-town airport.
Immigration and customs at arrival
Immigration queues can run long during peak arrival windows (late morning and early evening tend to see multiple international flights land close together) — having your e-visa already arranged online, rather than applying for visa-on-arrival at the counter, meaningfully speeds up this process since you skip the application step and go straight to the immigration desk.